Marine bailer

ABSTRACT

A remote control boat drainage valve assembly consisting of a thimble extending through an opening at the stern of a boat with a bracket secured in the stern having a pivoted arm carrying a plug engageable in the thimble. An elongated operating stem extends threadedly through a yoke carried by the bracket and is rotatably connected to the arm for moving the plug relative to the thimble by rotating the stem.

United States Patent 1 Moeller [451 Sept. 11, 1973 1 MARINE BAILER [75]Inventor: Axel Moeller, St. Petersburg Beach,

Fla.

[73] Assignee: Moeller Mfg. Co., Inc., Greenville,

1 Miss.

[22] Filed: Aug. 17, 1971 [21] Appl. N0.: 172,539

Related [1.8. Application Data [62] Division of Ser. No. 50,220, June26, 1970, Pat. No.

[52] US. Cl 114/183 R, 114/197, 251/298 [51] Int. Cl B63b 13/00 [58]Field of Search 114/182, 183, 184,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,400,683 DeForest 114/185699,730 5/1902 Werner 251/228 X 2,997,975 8/1961 Moeller 114/183 R678,545 7/1901 Corey 4 251/228 3,217,685 11/1965 Mueller 114/183 R IPrimary Examiner-Milton Buchler Assistant Examiner-E. R. KazenskeAttorneyBerman, Davidson & Berman {57] ABSTRACT A remote control boatdrainage valve assembly consisting of a thimble extending through anopening at the stern of a boat with a bracket secured in the sternhaving a pivoted arm carrying a plug engageable in the thimble. Anelongated operating stem extends threadedly through a yoke carried bythe bracket and is rotatably connected to the arm for moving the plugrelative to the thimble by rotating the stem.

10 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures g i 1 2/ s a /8 "IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIAVJPATENTEU W75 3, 757. 726

SHEET 2 0F 2 FIG. 5.

controlled stopper assembly for the drainage opening in the sternportion of a boat, the assembly being simple in construction andinvolving inexpensive parts, and being easy to operate.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improvedbailerassembly for a boat or other item to be bailed, said assembly being easyto install, relatively compact in size, and reliable in operation withina wide angular range of installation positions.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improvedremote-controlled bailer valve assembly which is relatively inexpensiveto manufacture, which is rugged in construction, and which has aselfcontained plug and drain tube to insure positive alignment andseating of the plug in the drain tube opening.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improvedremote-controlled bailer assembly which is easily accessible foroperation, which resists corrosion ofits parts, which is adjustable forinstallation in a wide range of different designs of boat shapesincluding deep V hulls, which can be arranged for installation invarious sizes and depths of motor wells, boat wells, or the like, andwhich is free from many hazards associated with previously employedbailer assemblies.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparentfrom the following description and claims, and from the accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary longitudinal vertical crosssectional view takenthrough the stern portion of a boat equipped with an improvedremote-controlled drainage valve assembly constructed in accordance withthe present invention.

FIG. 2 is a transverse fragmentary vertical crosssectional view takensubstantially on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical crosssectional view takensubstantially on the line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical crosssectional view takensubstantially on the line 4-4 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken substantially on theline 5-5 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged elevational view of the stem support fittingemployed in the assembly of FIGS. 1 to 5, taken substantially on theline 6-6 of FIG. 1, with the stem member omitted.

FIG. 7 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken substantially on line7--7 of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a vertical cross-sectional view generally similar to FIG. 4but showing the drainage valve assembly in open position.

It isa common practice to provide a drain aperture or opening at thestern of a power boat to allow bilge water tobe drained from the boatduring its operation.

This drain aperture is usually located below the water line, andtherefore when the boat is at rest it is necessary that the aperture besealed by some type of bailer valveor plug. When the boat is inoperation and is moving through the water, the aperture can be unsealedby removing or retracting the plug to thereby expose the aperture and toallow the bilge water accumulated in the bottom of the boat to drainout, the draining action being aided by the forward motion of the boatand by the attitude of the boat in the water during its movement.

Since the working parts of the plug or valve operating mechanism arefrequently under water, and since when the boat is at rest the apertureor thimble defining the aperture is surrounded by or submerged in water,it is necessary to provide an effective seal for the valve or plug andalso it is highly desirable to employ a remote controlled means'foroperating the valve or plug, since the valve or plug element itself isusually located in a relatively inaccessible location which is difficultto reach and which is in a relatively cramped space. It is therefore aprimary purpose of the: present invention to meet the variousrequirements outlined above in a simple and efficient manner and toprovide a remote controlled means which is positive in operation andwhich can be easily installed in many existing designs of power boatswithout requiring any appreciable physical modifications in thestructures of the boats.

Referring to the drawings, 11 designates a typical power boat providedwith the usual stern or transom l2 and having a bottom or floor 13. Inthe typical boat illustrated, a compartment 14 is provided adjacent theupper portion of the transom 12 to receive a portion of a motor, such asa conventional outboard motor, so as to support same in operativeposition. Thus, the compartment 14 is defined by various structuralelements including a downwardly and rearwardly inclined bot tom wall IS,a transverse generally rectangular hollow rib element 16 and a dependingtransversely extending vertical rear wall 17.

It is noted that the typical structure shown in FIG. 1 merely representsone type of design situation which may be encountered in connection withthe use of a drain opening for the purpose above described. It will benoted further that the drain opening, shown at I8 is located at thelower portion of the transom 12 near the floor 13, namely, substantiallyin a corner which is relatively difficult to reach and which is more orless blocked by the presence of the depending transverse wall element 17and by another closely adjacent transversely extending structure 19rising from bottom wall 13. The structure shown in the drawings ismerely representative of a wide range of boat designs wherein thenecessity for providing remote control of the drain plug is highlyapparent.

The drain opening 18 is provided with a thimble 20 of suitablecorrosion-resistant material, such as brass or copper, and the outer endof the thimble is flanged, as shown at 21, to overlie an annular, offsetmetal washer 22 which clamps a resilient deformable sealing ring 23around the thimble 20 and against the outside surface a of transom 12,whereby to provide a seal between the thimble and the transom. The innerend of thimble 20 is provided with a similar flange 24 which overlies anannular offset flange 25 formed around an opening in the platelikeintermediate portion 26 of a generally U- shaped bracket 27. The thimble20 extends through said aperture with its inner flange 24 overlying theoffset flange portion 25, with a resilient deformable sealing ring 28surrounding the thimble and confined between flange 25 and the margin ofopening 18, as is clearly shown in FIG. 4, providing a water-tight sealaround the inner end portion of the thimble 20, similar to that providedaround the outer end portion by the sealing ring 23.

The bracket 27 is provided with the parallel side walls 29 and 30 spacedon opposite sides of the opening, and the bracket 27 is secured in asuitably adjusted rotated position around the thimble by fasteningscrews 31 extending through the upper portion of the web member 26 andthreadedly engaged in the transom 12.

It will be readily understood that the bracket member 27 may be securedin any desired position of adjustment, for example, in the dotted viewposition thereof shown in FIG. 2, in accordance with the desiredlocation of the operating handle for the movable drainage plug assembly,as will be presently described.

Designated at 32 is a support member of generally U-shapedcross-section, which is pivotally connected between sidewalls 29 and ofbracket member 27 by a transverse pivot pin 33 extending through theupper portions of said sidewalls and the flanges 34,34 of support member32. A sealing plug member 35 of rubber or other similar resilientlydeformable sealing material is secured to the lower end portion of theweb of member 32, for example, by an axial rivet 36, as shown in FIG. 4.The plug member 35 has a generally conical forwardly facing sealingsurface 37 arranged to be substantially coaxial with the thimble 20,when the member 32 is swung towards its forward position, as shown inFIG. 4. Thus, the plug element 35 is adapted to be sealingly engaged inthe inner end of thimble 20 to close off the drainage opening.

As is clearly shown in FIG. 4, the plug member 35 is received at itslarger end in a rigid metal cup member 38 held against the web portionof member 32, and the smaller end of the plug is engaged by a washer 39secured on the right end portion of the rivet 36, as viewed in FIG. 4.

The pivot pin 33 has one enlarged end portion 40 outwardly adjacent thewall 29 of bracket member 27 and a cotter pin 41 is engaged through theopposite end portion of pin 33 to retain the pin in place, as shown inFIG. 3.

A pair of link arms 42,42 are pivotally connected to the flanges 29 and30 inwardly adjacent thereto by transversely aligned shouldered rivets43,43. Rotatably secured between the upper end portions of the link arms42,42 is a cylindrical transverse bar element 44 having an intermediatetapped bore 45 threadedly receiving an externally threaded stem rod 46.Rod 46 has a reduced lower end portion 47 which extends through atransverse central bore 48 formed in the cylindrical cross bar 49 whichis rotatably secured between the flanges 34,34 of support member 32. Awasher 50 is engaged on the lower end portion of rod element 47, beingretained beneath cross bar 49 by the cotter pin 51. An abutment washer52 is engaged on the reduced rod element 47 above the cross bar 59subjacent the shoulder defined at the upper end of the reduced rodportion 47. A stop sleeve 53 is slidably engaged on the threaded stemrod 46 between washer 52 and transverse bar member 44, thereby servingas ameansfor limiting the upward rotation'of the valve support member32, since further upward rotation of member 32 is prevented when the topend of sleeve 53 comes into abutment with the transverse bar element 44,as shown in FIG. 8.

As will be readily apparent, the sleeve 53 may be made of any desiredlength, whereby to correspondingly define the limiting position ofmember 32 when rotated in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 4,and thereby define the limit of opening movement of the sealing plugelement 35.

The stem rod 46 has a reduced top end portion 54 which is telescopicallyreceived in an elongated handle tube 55 and which is rigidly securedthereto by a transverse fastening pin 56, as is clearly shown in FIG. 4,whereby stem rod 46 may be rotated by rotating the handle tube 55.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the tube 55 extends upwardly and forwardlyand is slidably and sealingly supported in a bushing assembly 57provided around an aperture 58 in the structural member 17 through whichthe tube 55 extends. In the typical installation illustrated in fullline view in the drawings, the aperture 58 is provided in the dependingtransverse element 17 and the sealing bushing assembly 57 is externallysecured around the aperture 58. The assembly comprises a rigid flat ring59 with a centrally apertured resiliently deformable sealing washer 60interposed between the flat washer 59 and the member 17, the washer 57being secured to member 17 concentrically with aperture 58 by fasteningscrews 61,61. As shown in FIG. 8, the tube 55 extends sealingly andslidably through the central aperture of the rubber washer 60, saidwasher conformably accommodating the tube 55. Thus, the central apertureof the rigid washer 59 is substantially larger in diameter than thesupporting central aperture of the resilient deformable sealing washer60 so that the central portion of the sealing washer may deform in themanner illustrated in FIG. 8 to sealingly engage around tube 55 evenwhen the tube is at a relatively steep angle to the horizontal. Theaperture 58 in the transverse member 17 may be suitably inclined toprovide proper clearance for tube 55 and to allow the tube to anglesomewhat during its operation.

The transverse handle pin 63 is secured in the top end portion of tube55, and the top end of the tube is suitably sealed, as shown at 64.Handle pin 63 serves as a convenient grip for manually rotating tube 55.In operation, rotation of the tube 55 rotates the stem rod 46, thetransverse bar element 44 acting as a nut, whereby rotation of tube 55advances or retracts the stem rod 46. Rotation of the tube 55 in onedirection therefore causes the support member 32 to swing in acounterclockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 4, namely, moves thesealing plug element 35 toward the thimble 20, and ultimately causes thesealing element 35 to sealingly engage in the left end of the thimble,as shown in FIG. 4. This represents the closed position, and would bethe position thereof when the boat was stationary or moving at arelatively slow speed, whereby to prevent water from entering the boat.When the boat is travelling at a substantial speed, the tube 55 isrotated in the opposite direction by means of the handle rod 63, wherebyto retract the rod element 46 relative to the threaded transverse member44, which swings the support member 32 in a clockwise direction, asviewed in FIG. 4, for example, to the position of FIG. 8. This opens thedrain opening and allows the bilge water to be discharged through thethimble 20 by the suction induced by the forward movement of the boatthrough the water.

As will be apparent, the operating handle portion of the apparatus,namely, the top end of tube 55 with its handle rod 63, is convenientlyaccessible and can be operated easily as required. This insures a verysafe installation, since to operate the apparatus the operator does nothave to reach into the engine compartment and thereby does not run therisk of coming into contact with a hot motor or any other dangerouscomponent of the boat. This is an important factor in avoidingaccidents.

It is also readily apparent that the screws 31 are merely optional,since in the installation of the apparatus, the portion 26 of bracketmember 27 is engaged by the flange 24 of the thimble 18 with sufficienttightness to securely hold the bracket 27 in its proper position. It isalso readily apparent that the bracket 27 can be installed in suitablyrotated position in accordance with the desired location of rod 55 andoperating handle element 63. Thus, the bracket member 27 is pivotable,as required by the particular installation.

It is further apparent that because of the selfcontained construction,namely, due to the fact that the member 32 is pivoted at the transversepivot pin 33 to the bracket 27, the proper alignment of plug member 35with the inner opening of thimble 20 is always assured. Due to thepermanent swinging action of member 32 around the transverse pivot pin33, centered seating of the plug element 35 in the inner end of thimble20 is permanently assured. Thus, no special care is required in theinstallation of the apparatus to provide accurate seating of the plugelement 35 in the inner end of thimble 20 because this is built into thedesign of the apparatus.

The method of installing the apparatus is quite simple, and merelyconsists of first forming the opening 18 at the desired location in theboat transom 12. The thimble 20, having the flange 24 on its inner endbut having its outer end straight, is inserted through the opening inthe platelike intermediate portion 26 of the bracket or frame 27 withthe sealing ring 28 surrounding the thimble, andthe bracket 27 is placedagainst the inside of the transom 12 with the thimble engaged throughthe opening 18. The sealing ring 23 and the offset metal washer 22 arethen engaged around the outer end portion of the thimble, after whichthe outer end of the thimble is deformed outwardly to form the securingflange 21. The deformation of the outer end of the thimble is performedin such a manner as to provide a tight clamping action of the thimble onthe inner flange portion 25. If desired, the thimble may have its outerend flanged and its inner end straight initially. In such case, theinner end is inserted from the outside through the opening 18 andopening in the plate-like portion 26, following which the inner end isdeformed to form the flange 24.

It will be understood that the tube 55 may be secured onto the reducedtop end portion 54 of stem member 46 after the apparatus has beenmounted in the manner previously described. Alternatively, the tube 55with the crossbar 63 removed may be inserted through a suitablypositioned bushing assembly 57 prior to the securement of the platelikeportion 26 to transom 12 in the manner above described.

It will be further understood that numerous variations may occur tothose skilled in the art with regard to the method of installation ofthe apparatus, and therefore different procedures may be adopted inaccordance with the particular design of the boat in which the apparatusis installed.

As above mentioned, the device may be installed in any convenientmanner; for example, with the bracket 27 rotated in the mannerillustrated in dotted lines in FIG. 2, and with the handle tube 55extending through any other convenient portion of the boat structurewithin an arc of about such as through the wall 15 instead of the wall17. This may be desirable due to the particular construction of the boator the usage of the invention, and also to avoid contact with a hotmotor or the like.

The various metal parts are preferably of suitably corrosion-resistantmetal, such as brass, bronze or the like.

While a specific embodiment of an improved remotecontrolled boatdrainage valve assembly has been disclosed in the foregoing description,it will be understood that various modifications within the spirit ofthe invention may occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore it isintended that no limitations be placed on the invention except asdefined by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a boat provided with a drain opening, bracket means secured tosaid boat adjacent said opening, support means pivoted to said bracketmeans for swinging movement toward and away from said opening, a valveplug secured to said pivoted support means to sealingly engage in saidopening, nut means secured to said bracket means, an elongated rotatableoperating stem member threadedly engaged with said nut means, and meansdrivingly connecting the end of said stem member to said support meanswhereby said support means is swingable responsive to rotation of saidstem member.

2. In a boat as recited in claim ll, wherein the boat is provided with astructural element spaced forwardly from said drain opening, and saidstem member extends through said structural element.

3. In a boat as recited in claim 2, wherein said structural element hasan opening through which the stem member extends, and an aperturedresilient deformable sealing member secured over said last-namedopening, said stem member extending sealingly through the aperture ofsaid sealing member.

4. In a boat as recited in claim 1, wherein said bracket means hasparallel sidewalls spaced on opposite sides of said drain opening andsaid support means is pivoted between the sidewalls.

5. In a boat as recited in claim 4, wherein said nut means comprises atransverse bar element having an intermediate tapped bore threadedlyreceiving said stem member, and respective link arms connecting the endsof said bar element to said sidewalls.

6. In a boat as recited in claim 5, and wherein said support meansincludes a pair of spaced flanges extending perpendicular to the pivotalaxis of the support means and wherein the means drivingly connectingsaid stern member to the support means comprises an apertured crossbartransversely channeled between said flanges, said stem member extendingrotatably through the aperture of said crossbar, and abutment means onthe stem member below said crossbar preventing withbracket means isprovided with a transverse pivot shaft connected between said sidewallsabove said drain opening, said pivot shaft extending through the upperportions of said spaced flanges, whereby to pivotally support saidsupport means.

10. In a boat as recited in claim 9, wherein said abutment meanscomprises a transverse pin in the lower end portion of said stem memberand a washer on said stem member between said pin and said crossbar.

1. In a boat provided with a drain opening, bracket means secured tosaid boat adjacent said opening, support means pivoted to said bracketmeans for swinging movement toward and away from said opening, a valveplug secured to said pivoted support means to sealingly engage in saidopening, nut means secured to said bracket means, an elongated rotatableoperating stem member threadedly engaged with said nut means, and meansdrivingly connecting the end of said stem member to said support meanswhereby said support means is swingable responsive to rotation of saidstem member.
 2. In a boat as recited in claim 1, wherein the boat isprovided with a structural element spaced forwardly from said drainopening, and said stem member extends through said structural element.3. In a boat as recited in claim 2, wherein said structural element hasan opening through which the stem member extends, and an aperturedresilient deformable sealing member secured over said last-namedopening, said stem member extending sealingly through the aperture ofsaid sealing member.
 4. In a boat as recited in claim 1, wherein saidbracket means has parallel sidewalls spaced on opposite sides of saiddrain opening and said support means is pivoted between the sidewalls.5. In a boat as recited in claim 4, wherein said nut means comprises atransverse bar element having an intermediate tapped bore threadedlyreceiving said stem member, and respective link arms connecting the endsof said bar element to said sidewalls.
 6. In a boat as recited in claim5, and wherein said support means includes a pair of spaced flangesextending perpendicular to the pivotal axis of the support means andwherein the means drivingly connecting said stem member to the supportmeans comprises an apertured crossbar transversely channeled betweensaid flanges, said stem member extending rotatably through the apertureof said crossbar, and abutment means on the stem member below saidcrossbar preventing withdrawal of the stem member from said last-namedaperture.
 7. In a boat as recited in claim 6, and means limiting themovement of said crossbar towards said transverse bar element, wherebyto limit the swinging movement of said support means away from saiddrain opening.
 8. In a boat as recited in claim 7, and wherein the meanslimiting the movement of said crossbar comprises a rigid sleeve memberon the stem member between said crossbar and the transverse bar element.9. In a boat as recited in claim 8, and wherein said bracket means isprovided with a transverse pivot shaft connected between said sidewallsabove said drain opening, said pivot shaft extending through the upperportions of said spaced flanges, whereby to pivotally support saidsupport means.
 10. In a boat as recited in claim 9, wherein saidabutment means comprises a transverse pin in the lower end portion ofsaid stem member and a washer on said stem member between said pin andsaid crossbar.